In the imperial court, his father proposed to the emperor that the newly - promoted scholars should be sent to remote areas for more experience. As a result, Zhou Donglin, who would have surely become a court official in the capital, was forced to become a low - ranking local official.
Seeing that he couldn't avoid it, Prime Minister Zhou asked earnestly, "Donglin, tell me honestly. Why on earth do you want to be an official?"
Zhou Donglin fell silent.
He had vaguely heard some rumors. It seemed that the emperor minded his childhood friendship with Li Xiyu very much. This had already brought quite a bit of trouble to Li Xiyu. So from then on, Zhou Donglin would never admit in front of anyone that he liked Li Xiyu.
His silence didn't escape Prime Minister Zhou's notice. He said frankly, "I know you're trying to protect the empress. But do you know that the emperor already minds your relationship with the empress? The more you try to protect her, the more the emperor will resent her. The closer you get to her, the more difficult her situation will be. You think you're protecting her, but actually you're hurting her. Do you understand?"
Zhou Donglin felt extremely sad.
"But... are you just going to let me watch her being ostracized?"
"Of course not."
Prime Minister Zhou analyzed, "You know the strength of the Li family. The empress has the support of the army. The emperor won't do anything to her. Moreover, the emperor still has feelings for the empress. As long as the couple can sit down and have a good talk, the deadlock might be resolved."
Zhou Donglin believed the first part of Prime Minister Zhou's words, but when he heard the latter part, he just wanted to sneer.
"Love? Loving her but taking in three thousand concubines? What kind of love is that?"
"He's the emperor. For the sake of the country, he has the mission to carry on the family line. This is not just his personal matter, but a matter of national importance!"
"Bullshit mission." Zhou Donglin was so angry that he even swore in front of his father. "What national importance? From beginning to end, it's all about Song Jiaye. What, does this throne have to be inherited by someone with the surname Song? Does he have to find someone to give birth to a child with the surname Song to inherit the country? If it were me, I wouldn't force it if I didn't have a child. I'd just abdicate in favor of a talented person from the clan or even from the court. Back then, Song Jiaye clearly wanted to expand his harem, but he acted as if he was forced. It's really disgusting. He's just a completely selfish and self - serving villain, yet he packages himself as if he's making a great sacrifice for the people. What sacrifice has he made? Sacrificing his looks and sleeping with three thousand concubines?"
Zhou Donglin's words became more and more outrageous. Prime Minister Zhou couldn't stand it anymore. He slapped Zhou Donglin, which finally made him shut up.
"Are you crazy? How could you say such treasonous words! Do you want to drag our whole Zhou family down with you?"
Zhou Donglin's words were full of irony. If Song Jiaye heard them, the whole Zhou family would be in big trouble.
"If you think I'll bring trouble to the family, then just remove me from the family register!"
"Just for that woman? You don't even care about your parents anymore."
"For her, but not just for her. Dad, do you still remember your original intention when you first entered the court as an official? You wanted to be a good official, serving the country and the people. But now, what you do most every day is to figure out Song Jiaye's mind. This court is no longer as clear - cut as it was during the previous emperor's reign. But you, as pillars of the country, not only don't give advice to the emperor and find a way to solve the problem, but also collude with him. You know clearly that the emperor is too suspicious and that his act of harming the loyal and good is wrong, but you still go along with him. If this is what the Zhou family has become, I don't need to stay."
This was the first time Zhou Donglin proposed to leave the family.
Prime Minister Zhou was also very angry. He scolded, "It's no use saying so much. That woman is already his wife. The husband is the head of the wife. Her affairs should be taken care of by the emperor! You have no right to interfere!"
Zhou Donglin looked at his father. For the first time, he felt disappointed in him.
"Dad, what do you think of me?" Zhou Donglin was heart - broken. "Yes, I like her. From the past to now and even in the future, I'll always like her. But I've never had any dirty thoughts about her. If Song Jiaye respected her after she got married, I would sincerely bless them. Now I know she's not doing well. Although I'm worried, have I ever overstepped my bounds? You can insult me, but don't insult my feelings for her."
Prime Minister Zhou could only sigh as he watched his son's determined back walking away.
Actually, Zhou Donglin was very much like him when he was young. At that time, he was also full of enthusiasm and only wanted to do something for the country.
But he was luckier than Zhou Donglin because the previous emperor he served was a wise king who was truly lenient towards others. So Prime Minister Zhou was able to fulfill his ambitions, and the Li family's army was able to become a pillar of the country.
But the current emperor clearly showed no sign of the previous emperor. Moreover, he was extremely suspicious. He cared more about the stability of his power than the common people.
Asking such an emperor to abdicate would be asking for trouble.
Zhou Donglin went to the Li family. Since the emperor had been suppressing the Li family recently, Zhou Donglin was the only one who still often visited the Li family.
The eldest sister - in - law of the Li family would go to the palace from time to time to visit Li Xiyu. When Zhou Donglin came this time, she had just returned from the palace. When she talked about what she had seen in the palace, she could only sigh.
"Little sister shouldn't have been trapped in the palace. She was a wild swan, but now she's become a canary in a cage. When I went to see her today, there was no light in her eyes. It broke my heart."
While the eldest sister - in - law of the Li family was muttering, the eldest brother of the Li family noticed Zhou Donglin's figure at the door. He quickly winked at his wife. The eldest sister - in - law quickly wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and put on a smiling face to greet Zhou Donglin.
"Master Yunhe, why do you have time to visit our mansion today?"
Actually, Zhou Donglin had already heard what the eldest sister - in - law said. He also knew that the Li family always reported good news but hid the bad from him.
This was probably Li Xiyu's order.
Zhou Donglin endured the pain in his heart that felt like it was bleeding. He pretended not to know anything and asked with a smile, "I heard that sister - in - law just came back from the palace. So I came to ask how she's doing recently?"
"She's doing great." The eldest sister - in - law remembered Li Xiyu's instructions and laughed it off with a smile. "I went to see her today. She's even gained some weight. The food in the palace is really good."
But the version Zhou Donglin knew was different.
Li Xiyu had indeed gained weight, but not because she was happy and living a good life.